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Turkana County, Kenya

Ziwa

Ziwa means lake.

Turkana County

The Lake Turkana basin is the cradle of humankind.

Capital
Lodwar
People
927k
Area
71,598 km²
Altitude
500 m
Plan a tripTravel the road

Turkana is Kenya's largest county by land area: a sun-baked frontier of desert plains, volcanic ridges and the jade-green shore of Lake Turkana. It borders Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia and is home mainly to the pastoralist Turkana people.

Why it matters

The Lake Turkana basin is the cradle of humankind. It yielded the 1.6-million-year-old Turkana Boy, and stone tools at Lomekwi date back about 3.3 million years.

The economy

About 60% of residents live off livestock, and Lake Turkana is Kenya's second-largest source of freshwater fish. Oil was found near Lokichar in 2012.

Must-see in Turkana

  • Lake Turkana (the Jade Sea)

    A vast desert lake within a UNESCO World Heritage property.

  • Central Island National Park

    A volcanic island with three crater lakes and a Nile crocodile breeding ground.

  • Eliye Springs

    A palm-fringed sandy beach with warm lake water.

  • Nariokotome and the Turkana Boy Monument

    The find site of the famous fossil.

  • Ferguson's Gulf

    Birdwatching, fishing and lakeside sunsets.

  • Namoratunga standing stones

    An archaeological site of ancient stone pillars.

  • South Turkana National Reserve

    Wild country with elephants, leopards and Kori bustards.

  • Lodwar hills

    Short hikes to a hilltop Christ statue above town.

Parks and wildlife in Turkana

Peoples of Turkana

Communities with a historic home in Turkana. Today people from every part of Kenya live and work here.

Music, food and culture

Turkana culture shines in the Edong'a and Ng'ital dances and bold beadwork and leatherwork. The Tobong'u Lore ("Welcome Back Home") festival is held in Lodwar, with dates that change yearly. Try lake fish and roast goat.

Best time to go

Hot and dry all year, so plan outings for mornings and evenings. Time your trip for Tobong'u Lore if you can.

On the map

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Turkana and its neighbours. Tap a county or a place to read about it.

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Your questions

When is the best time to visit Turkana?

Hot and dry all year, so plan outings for mornings and evenings. Time your trip for Tobong'u Lore if you can.

What is Turkana County known for?

The Lake Turkana basin is the cradle of humankind. It yielded the 1.6-million-year-old Turkana Boy, and stone tools at Lomekwi date back about 3.3 million years.

Where is Turkana and what is its capital?

Turkana is Kenya's largest county by land area: a sun-baked frontier of desert plains, volcanic ridges and the jade-green shore of Lake Turkana. It borders Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia and is home mainly to the pastoralist Turkana people. The county capital is Lodwar, and the 2019 census counted 926,976 people across about 71,598 square kilometres.

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A giraffe and acacia tree silhouetted against a Kenyan sunset

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